The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1887-09-01
THE REPORTERS PAY.
ABLE MEN WHO DO HARD WORK
FOR LOW WAGES.


lists May Do Well to Conside der--Com-
parative Salaries of Editors In Chief
and Their subordinates.
New York doubtless has more gaod news
paper men than any other city, al shown in
my last letter, largely because the whole
world is made tributary to its demands in
this direction. Yet, as compared with other
pursuits think the "fat takes" are few, the
owners of publications getting the larger
share Of the pie, though most of the men con-
trolling the best newspapers are usually Of
class that in other professions, and with SINH
larl investments, would make even more
money Charles A..Dana is said to receive
only $4,000 as salary, though his income
from Sun stock makes the snug sum yearly of
about 100000 Reid, of The Tribune, is
credited with $4,000 salary; Hepworth, edi-
sor of The Herald, $4,000 Mr.. Miller, of
The Times, is supposed to receive $4,000, and
that papers managing editor, Mr.. Reid,
$4,000. Col Cockrill, Of The World, is sup
posed to make $4,000 from small amount
If stock and his salary Of $4,000. There is
every reason to doubt the accuracy of these
igures of course, for they are founded only
IN rumor, and about such things rumor is
not often infallible.
"GATH's" 5000 WEEK.
1t is doubtful if there is better salary
paid in New York for newspaper work than
hat given George Alfred Townsend by The
Cincinnati Enquirer, S2OO per week, the cor
respondent having almost unlimited license
IS to what he shall write or where from. This
salary isnot on account of stock, it must be
remembered. An excellent authority among
New York journalists says the highest salary
lere to non-stockholding writers on the city
papers is 81 000 This is not far from right,
jhough some of the people so salaried make
b, 900 or $4,000 more in other work. Yet
wen with $4,000 as yearly earnings, the
ame men in similarly responsible positions in
business life would earn double or treble that
AMOUNT There are jockeys that earn double
that salary, and lawyers by the score earn
100000 annually here, and it must be borne
N mind that a man who can command S10,-
700 in journalism must have inordinate
lbility-taents which, had they been wisely
directed in other channels, would have placed
lim on the highest plane.
Now let us look on the reportorial side Of
journalism in New York. Take The Sun as
IN example, because it is the favorite paper
% work on. Mr.. Dana appreciates his
bright young men" and talks about them,
md reporters strive for "sits" on his paper
accordingly.
On proof of ability, if there is a vacancy on
ihe reportorial staff of The Sun, the candi-
late will be put to work on a salary of SIS a
week, which, if developments are satisfac.
ory, will be increased to S1S, then to $40 a
infn
trustworthy newsgatherers the salary is
topped and they are paid IS per column for
III their matter that is used. They are, of
course, assigned" or given definite matters
% look after. If the assignment does not de-
Velop "copy" amounting to more than the
allowance, the reporter will receive fifty cents
IN hour for the time consumed, on ten hours
laily, thus being sure of $5 day. Street
ar or other expenses he must pay. though il
ent out Of town his expenses are paid by the
PAPER
WAGES OF PENCIL DRIVERS.
The average earnings of The Suns repor-
orial workers is about S45 per week, and $50
as well as any Of them do. This paper
Eeeps city force of thirty to thirty five men
or its morning edition and discards from
ihree to ten columns Of matter in type every
morning. For matter discarded reporters
ire allowed time rates The editors in this
department. are, of course, on salary. The
lay or city editor lays out the work for his
eporters, and the night editor, us one Of the
)oys puts it, "keeps rake in one hand and u
.arving knife in the other.' In the carving
le has two assistants
In addition to Dana pere and Dana fills The
sun has an editorial writer The managing
.ditor also does some Of that work and has an
assistant for other things. The telegraph
,ditor has an assistant too. The sporting,
musical and literary editors are
alaried.
On the evening papers with the exception
If that edition of The Sun, salaries are much
ess than on any Of the morning sheets. The
column rate averages about So, and the col
INNS are long enough and broad enough to
itrike terror to the soul of any space
writer. One of the boys tells me $50
II the way Of salary is much more
common in the evening field, for editors,
han S60 Reporters are satisfied with S25 as
IveTage earnings on space on the evening
heets. A good telegraph editor will get s25
% $50; good but of course not particularly
Jtilliant editorial writer about $40.
Some Of the weekly papers here publish
nort stories of 1000 to $500 words for which
hey pay s4 to S5 each, and there are people
who make $40 to $25 week writing these
'tories, some of them good. How is that for
grind!
There are newspaper people here who
make $1,000 to 5000 year by writing one
n two letters a week, others who would
Jump at job for SO a week. Mcdonald In
Buffalo Express.